Published: Wednesday, October 31, 2012 at 10:42 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, October 31, 2012 at 10:42 a.m.

About 50 people attended a town hall meeting at the department’s main station, asking questions about how the department functions and why the money is needed.

The department has put two tax proposals on the ballot that would:

n Renew a 20-mill property tax, or millage, used to run the Bayou Cane Fire Department.

n Levy a new 10-mill property tax.

Bayou Cane officials say the second tax is needed because a 2009 grant used to hire 14 new employees is set to expire. The district needed the extra manpower, and the grant delayed a tax-hike request then, Assistant Fire Chief Kenny Hill said.

Opponents of the request say the department should do without if it can’t afford the extra manpower via the 20-mill tax it has long received.

Currently, about 85 percent of the district’s tax money goes to salaries, benefits and uniforms. The rest pays for fuel, vehicle insurance and utilities, Hill said.

At the meeting Tuesday, firefighters said they responded to 10 percent more calls than the Houma Fire Department and did so with a $4.1 million budget compared to Houma’s $6.1 million.

The problem, Himel said, is that only Bayou Cane property owners fund the needs of people who work and shop in the community, which includes Southland Mall and the retail strip along Martin Luther King Boulevard.

Himel said the department has few options.

“You can’t mention a sales tax because the parish council goes nuts when we bring it up,” Himel said. “But that’s a fairer way of paying.”

The current tax brought in $3.6 million last year.

Terrebonne’s tax assessor estimates the 20-mill tax could bring in $3.8 million next year, and the newly proposed 10-mill tax could bring in another $1.9 million.

“You want a millage, the teachers want a millage,” Bayou Cane homeowner Michael Dalaune, 58. “It’s better for me to have an increase in my insurance than to pay these millages that are going through the roof.”

The first $75,000 of a home’s value is exempt from property taxes in Louisiana, so the 20-mill tax costs the owner of a $150,000 house about $150 annually. The 10-mill tax will add another $75 a year to that same homeowner’s tax bill.

Dalaune referenced insurance costs because firefighters have said they are worried the department will lose its above-average fire-protection rating of 2 out of 10 if it cuts staffing.

Bayou Cane resident Ray Husher, 69, who has attended the department’s board meetings for years, said he would be happy to fund the department with more of his tax dollars.

“I have no problem voting for both. If it’s going to be money out of my pocket, I’d rather pay for the millage and get better services,” Husher said.

Bayou Cane resident Rob Brunet said he did not understand why the department had to ask for a renewal of its current tax and a second tax at the same time.

“Why couldn’t you break it up?” Brunet said.

“I would rather go with the renewal now and the increase later,” Himel responded. “But we’re out of time.”

If voters approve, the second, additional tax will be levied next year, and firefighters will get the money in 2014, Hill said. However, the renewal of the first tax won’t be levied for two years, and firefighters won’t receive the revenue until 2015.

If they waited a year or two to ask for an additional tax, they would have to tell voters, “If you don’t vote for the millage, we’re going to lay people off. If you vote for the millage, we’re going to lay people off, but we might be able to hire them back,” Himel said.

Dalaune asked why firefighters had to take fire trucks to lunch, and officials said it was because they are still on-call.

If someone approached these firefighters, telling them their house was on fire, “how would you feel if four firefighters looked at you and said, ‘Be right back. Got to get the truck,’ ” Himel said.

Officials also used the town hall meeting to address information brought up in the past by those who oppose the tax increase.

Terrebonne Councilman Greg Hood wrote letters to The Courier, Daily Comet and Tri-Parish Times listing items the Bayou Cane Fire Department wanted to purchase and fund.

That was a wish list drawn up by former Chief Charles Long, Himel said.

“I would never budget to put up a $10,000 sign when the one we have is perfectly fine,” Himel said.

The department will repair its training field, Hill said. Most repairs and purchases have been delayed in anticipation of a tight budget next year.

Residents also talked about a flier that former parish Councilman Ronnie Eschete is mailing to voters, which shows the department’s increasing revenue and mentions a “union takeover.”

Eschete has repeatedly said that government agencies can always think of reasons they need more money, but taxpayers have to cut them off.

Himel said Bayou Cane’s union does not have collective-bargaining rights, and its members cannot go on strike. The only planned wage increases are the 2 percent annual raises mandated by the state, he added.

“In no way are we campaigning for a ‘union takeover’ nor are we rallying for increased wages for our firefighters,” said Ricky Valenti Jr., president of the Bayou Cane Firefighters Association. “The association and its members have an excellent working relationship with the department administrators, fire chief and board members and plan to continue that relationship for many years to come.”

After the meeting, Dalaune said he wasn’t convinced. He’ll likely vote for the renewal but against the additional tax, he said.

“I’m not voting for any increases,” he said, citing that he recently took a $20,000 cut in his income. “I cannot justify giving anyone any more money.”

Staff Writer Katie Urbaszewski can be reached at 448-7617 or katie.urbaszewski

<p>Residents debated the need Tuesday for 50 percent property tax increase the Bayou Cane Fire Department is asking voters to approve.</p><p>About 50 people attended a town hall meeting at the department's main station, asking questions about how the department functions and why the money is needed.</p><p>The department has put two tax proposals on the ballot that would:</p><p>n Renew a 20-mill property tax, or millage, used to run the Bayou Cane Fire Department.</p><p>n Levy a new 10-mill property tax.</p><p>Bayou Cane officials say the second tax is needed because a 2009 grant used to hire 14 new employees is set to expire. The district needed the extra manpower, and the grant delayed a tax-hike request then, Assistant Fire Chief Kenny Hill said. </p><p>Opponents of the request say the department should do without if it can't afford the extra manpower via the 20-mill tax it has long received.</p><p>Currently, about 85 percent of the district's tax money goes to salaries, benefits and uniforms. The rest pays for fuel, vehicle insurance and utilities, Hill said.</p><p>At the meeting Tuesday, firefighters said they responded to 10 percent more calls than the Houma Fire Department and did so with a $4.1 million budget compared to Houma's $6.1 million. </p><p>“Is this the permanent solution? No, I don't think it is,” Fire Chief Ken Himel said. </p><p>The problem, Himel said, is that only Bayou Cane property owners fund the needs of people who work and shop in the community, which includes Southland Mall and the retail strip along Martin Luther King Boulevard.</p><p>Himel said the department has few options.</p><p>“You can't mention a sales tax because the parish council goes nuts when we bring it up,” Himel said. “But that's a fairer way of paying.”</p><p>The current tax brought in $3.6 million last year.</p><p>Terrebonne's tax assessor estimates the 20-mill tax could bring in $3.8 million next year, and the newly proposed 10-mill tax could bring in another $1.9 million.</p><p>“You want a millage, the teachers want a millage,” Bayou Cane homeowner Michael Dalaune, 58. “It's better for me to have an increase in my insurance than to pay these millages that are going through the roof.”</p><p>The first $75,000 of a home's value is exempt from property taxes in Louisiana, so the 20-mill tax costs the owner of a $150,000 house about $150 annually. The 10-mill tax will add another $75 a year to that same homeowner's tax bill.</p><p>Dalaune referenced insurance costs because firefighters have said they are worried the department will lose its above-average fire-protection rating of 2 out of 10 if it cuts staffing.</p><p>Bayou Cane resident Ray Husher, 69, who has attended the department's board meetings for years, said he would be happy to fund the department with more of his tax dollars.</p><p>“I have no problem voting for both. If it's going to be money out of my pocket, I'd rather pay for the millage and get better services,” Husher said.</p><p>Bayou Cane resident Rob Brunet said he did not understand why the department had to ask for a renewal of its current tax and a second tax at the same time.</p><p>“Why couldn't you break it up?” Brunet said.</p><p>“I would rather go with the renewal now and the increase later,” Himel responded. “But we're out of time.”</p><p>If voters approve, the second, additional tax will be levied next year, and firefighters will get the money in 2014, Hill said. However, the renewal of the first tax won't be levied for two years, and firefighters won't receive the revenue until 2015.</p><p>If they waited a year or two to ask for an additional tax, they would have to tell voters, “If you don't vote for the millage, we're going to lay people off. If you vote for the millage, we're going to lay people off, but we might be able to hire them back,” Himel said.</p><p>Dalaune asked why firefighters had to take fire trucks to lunch, and officials said it was because they are still on-call.</p><p>If someone approached these firefighters, telling them their house was on fire, “how would you feel if four firefighters looked at you and said, 'Be right back. Got to get the truck,' ” Himel said.</p><p>Officials also used the town hall meeting to address information brought up in the past by those who oppose the tax increase.</p><p>Terrebonne Councilman Greg Hood wrote letters to The Courier, Daily Comet and Tri-Parish Times listing items the Bayou Cane Fire Department wanted to purchase and fund.</p><p>That was a wish list drawn up by former Chief Charles Long, Himel said.</p><p>“I would never budget to put up a $10,000 sign when the one we have is perfectly fine,” Himel said.</p><p>The department will repair its training field, Hill said. Most repairs and purchases have been delayed in anticipation of a tight budget next year.</p><p>Residents also talked about a flier that former parish Councilman Ronnie Eschete is mailing to voters, which shows the department's increasing revenue and mentions a “union takeover.”</p><p>Eschete has repeatedly said that government agencies can always think of reasons they need more money, but taxpayers have to cut them off.</p><p>Himel said Bayou Cane's union does not have collective-bargaining rights, and its members cannot go on strike. The only planned wage increases are the 2 percent annual raises mandated by the state, he added.</p><p>“In no way are we campaigning for a 'union takeover' nor are we rallying for increased wages for our firefighters,” said Ricky Valenti Jr., president of the Bayou Cane Firefighters Association. “The association and its members have an excellent working relationship with the department administrators, fire chief and board members and plan to continue that relationship for many years to come.”</p><p>After the meeting, Dalaune said he wasn't convinced. He'll likely vote for the renewal but against the additional tax, he said.</p><p>“I'm not voting for any increases,” he said, citing that he recently took a $20,000 cut in his income. “I cannot justify giving anyone any more money.”</p><p>Staff Writer Katie Urbaszewski can be reached at 448-7617 or katie.urbaszewski</p><p>@dailycomet.com.</p>